The Mirror of Galadriel

The Fellowship spent days uncounted in Lothlorien resting and recovering. They had not seen Celeborn or Galadriel for some time nor the other Galadhrim. Haldir had went back to guard the borders and few knew the common tongue. Legolas was often away from the Fellowship visiting the land. "Often he took Gimli with him when he went abroad in the land, and the others wondered at this change" (p. 374, The Fellowship of the Ring). Legolas did eat his meals with the Company but refused to interpret the songs of lament the Galadhrim sang about Mithrandir (Gandalf) for the grief was too near. Frodo, who was always one to listen to songs or rhymes rather than create them, confided to Sam he had been working on one in Gandalf's memory. Sam was pleased to hear it and offered a suggestion to add a line about his fireworks.

One evening Frodo and Sam were feeling that the time to leave Lorien was coming soon. Sam wanted to see some elf-magic before he left. Frodo was content to simply stay. Both wished that they could see Galadriel again but realized they needed to continue the Quest. As Sam put it: "'It's the job that's never started as takes the longest to finish, as my old gaffer used to say'" (p. 376, The Fellowship of the Ring). Now that's some good folksy hobbity wisdom right there. I'll have to remember that! They both agreed that as much as they missed Gandalf it would be worse once they left the Elf haven. As they conversed Galadriel came, as if she read their thoughts, and beckoned them to follow her.

They found themselves in a dell with a small stream with a basin of silver near it. They watched as Galadriel filled the basin with water from the stream and breathed on it. When the water was still she spoke declaring it the Mirror of Galadriel. She could command the Mirror to show things that someone wanted to see but it often revealed images unasked for: things that were, are, and may yet be. She asked Frodo if he wanted to look but he said nothing. She then turned to Sam and offered him a look saying this would be elf-magic as he declared it. With fear and curiosity Sam went forward. He hoped to see what was going on back in the Shire. At first Sam only saw the reflections of the stars but soon his breath was taken away as images appeared in the mirror. He saw the following:

• Frodo looking pale and asleep under a great cliff
• Himself going up a winding stair and looking desperate and frantic
• Ted Sandyman felling trees in the Shire, which angered him
• The Old Mill in the Shire replaced by a large building spewing smoke (he though Elrond was right to send Merry and Pippin back to warn the Shire)
• Finally he saw Bagshot row being dug up and his gaffer leaving with only the possessions he could fit in a wheelbarrow

The last vision shook Sam mightily. He withdrew from the Mirror in a rage shouting that he needed to go home and get back to the Shire. Galadriel reminded Sam that he did not wish to return to the Shire without Frodo before he saw the Mirror. Perhaps the visions were of things that were not yet to be as long as he stayed true to his task. Sam buried his head in his hands. "After a moment he spoke again thickly, as if struggling with tears. 'No, I'll go home by the long road with Mr. Frodo, or not at all,' he said" (p. 378, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Galadriel turned back to Frodo and asked again if he would look. He asked for her advice but she did not give a straight answer; saying that it may be profitable to do so or it may prove unprofitable. "Yet, I think, Frodo, that you have the courage and wisdom enough for the venture, or I would not have brought you here'" (p. 378, The Fellowship of the Ring). Frodo decided that he too would have a look into the Mirror. And this is what he saw:

• A figure clad in white with a white staff walking upon a road. The figure reminded him of Gandalf but he saw no face. Perhaps, Frodo thought, it was a vision of Saruman?
• A glimpse of Bilbo in a room full of papers; the old hobbit was restless
• A montage of images that Frodo understood to be images of the great story that he was now in
• The Great Sea
• Visions of a boat coming from the West in a great storm, a white fortress with seven towers, a ship with black sails and yet a banner bearing a white tree, with the smoke of battle in the distance
• Finally, Frodo saw an eye. The Eye. "The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat's watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window of nothing" (p. 379, The Fellowship of the Ring)
• To his horror Frodo knew the Eye was searching for him and could not find him yet, unless Frodo wanted to be found. The Ring grew heavy around his neck.

Galadriel told Frodo she knew what he had seen for she two had seen the vision: the Dark Lord searches for her as well but has not found her yet. She raised her hands in the air and Frodo noticed two things. "Earendil, the Evening Star, most beloved of the Elves, shone clear above" (p. 380, The Fellowship of the Ring). The light of the star shone through a ring on her finger and Frodo knew. Galadriel perceived his thought: "'This is Nenya, the Ring of Adamant, and I am its keeper'" (p. 380, The Fellowship of the Ring). She told him that Sauron suspected she was in possession of one of the Three. And that the coming of Frodo meant Doom for the Galadhrim. For if he failed they would be discovered by Sauron and if he succeeded their power diminished and Lothlorien would fade with time and they would retreat into the West lest they become a rustic folk whom would become forgotten.

Frodo then offered her the One Ring if only she would ask. She laughed and noted he saw with a keen eye for she did desire it. "And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of a Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night!...All shall love me and despair!'" (p. 381, The Fellowship of the Ring). It seemed as she spoke Nenya illumined her with light and Frodo thought she looked worshipful indeed. The light faded and she ceased to speak. "'I pass the test,' she said. 'I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel'" (p. 381, The Fellowship of the Ring). After a long silence she declared that the Company was to depart in the morning. 

Frodo asked why, since he could wear the One Ring, he could not perceive the other Rings? Galadriel warned him that he was not strong enough and he should not try. For only thrice (here, here, and here) had he worn it. She told him his sight had already grown much keener: for he had read her thought better than many who were thought to be wise, he had seen the Eye of him who held the Seven and the Nine, and he had seen and recognized Nenya. "'Did you see my ring?' she asked turning again to Sam. 'No, Lady,' he answered. 'To tell you the truth, I wondered what you were talking about'" (p. 382, The Fellowship of the Ring).

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, January-February
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 374-382